Blitzer

You usually get to see pics of the next year production line in late January around the time of the SIA show. You might not get to see specifications of these products till much later in the year, often very late spring or early summer. Boards are "released for sale" usually in late August or early September. As far as when they go on "sale," -- usually they don't. NS does not overproduce their product line and sells their popular boards out by mid winter (Proto being one of those). You might find an odd size ProtoX for sale, but this "sale" won't be for much (?10% off).

My suggestion is to buy what you want while you can get it this year, but don't wait long. Proto's sold out by mid-season last year.

Richie67

Cheers mate thats a great help. By sale I meant general sale not discounted. No point waiting until next season for a 13/14 board if they aint released to Aug/Sept.. my season will be 3/4 done! I'll pick up the 12/13 Proto asap and have the agony of looking at it pick up dust until atleast march!

cav0011

but it is such a pretty dust collector. The graphics are awful but they are likea pug, they grow on you over time (at least for me)

Blitzer

You could always get this one if you don't like the normal graphics
Never Summer Proto CT Limited Edition Snowboard 2013

onthefence

I just purchased an SL since I thought I would just be doing freeride, but later decided that I want to try some rails and jumps this season. I will probably be landing fakie a lot. How much of a disadvantage am I at on an SL vs a Proto?

03SVTCobra

From what NS told a few of us if you want to ride the SL as a twin you can just center your bindings. It will just be stiffer and more damp. Might not be worth it to switch over the the Proto.

hktrdr

No, we have established that this is not true. It will be a little more twin-like but you won't be centered along the sidecut, so it is not like a true twin.

03SVTCobra

I guess I missed that thread. I was just stating what NS emailed me.

hktrdr

No, you participated in that thread.
It is just that the NS customer support email was not very clear/potentially misleading. The SL is fundamentally directional, not twin. Not very directional (so you can get close to a twin riding experience), but directional nonetheless.

03SVTCobra

OK I remember that thread. My bad